A car deliberately hit a police van before bursting into flames on the Avenue des Champs Élysées in central Paris, police officials say.
The driver died in the incident. Police found a Kalashnikov rifle, handguns and gas bottles in the car.
Security forces have been targeted in France once again, Interior Minister Gérard Collomb said, calling it an "attempted attack".
No law enforcement officers or civilian bystanders were hurt.
France is under a state of emergency after being hit by a wave of deadly terrorist attacks in recent years.